Improvement in waistbands



L( T. SMITH;

Waistbands.

Patented Aug. 27,1878

i'nuerafirs LYMAN T. SMITH, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAlSTBANDS Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20?,563, dated August 2?,1878fapplication file J annary' 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, LYMAN- 'I. SMITH, of

New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and' useful Improvements in Womens Waistbands; and I do hereby declare that the following'is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make'and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification. v

My improved woman's waistband is designed for use with the corset, but may be used without the corset. It is made to fit the ,form of the wearer, and is in two parts, so as to be adjusted to the waist, with a downward extension from the front part adapted to conform to the upper part of the abdomen, to brace and support the corset and the body. It is of light spring metal or other suitable material.

The front extension curves downward from a point bearing upon the hips, and gives protection to the springs of the corset at the hips and front, while holding the point of the corset down and giving it a better and more comfortable set. It is attached to the corset at the front and back, and'it has no elasticity in the line of its length when the two parts are joined, so that. it cannot yield, but gives a rigid support to the 'corsetand overlies its front part.

*Referring 'to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved waistband as applied to a corset; Fig. 2, the waistband; and Fig. 3, a section of the hand through the front-sup porting extension.

The band is of Y concavo-convex form 111 crosssection, and is made in two parts adapted to fit the wearer. The rear part, A, is wide'enough to afford a good support to the back, and the front part, B, has a downward extension, 0, curving up and around to the hips, giving a support to the front portion of the corset and conforming to the upper part of the abdomen. The waist portion of the band has-the concavoconvex form; but the front extension is concave and fits over the point of the corset, protecting the springs 21; the hips and in front from breaking at these points, and giving the corseta fi'rm setand a bracing support to the.

body of the wearer.

The ends of the two parts are provided with suitable buckles D, or other fastenings, to adjust the band to the size of the waist. Each part is fastened to the corsetat front and back by buttons E on the corset and holes F in the band.

The device may be made of any suitable material; but I prefer light spring metal or celluloid, whichalso has sufficient elasticity, and will not break. The front extension'of the band may be made of open work, for lightness, and its edge is slightly curved outward to prevent edge contact.

In combination with a corset, a waistband consisting of a front and a rear part, hinged or otherwise coupled at each side, and having.

its front part formed with a downward extension, shaped as described, and adapted to conform to the abdomen, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I- claim the foregoing I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LY AN T. sMrrri.

IVitnesses:

JULIUS Twiss, AI-IRENS M. HoLMns,

- T OFFICE. 

